Elanpro, India’s leading commercial refrigeration company, hosted Saksham 2025, a first-of-its-kind knowledge-led seminar in Bengaluru aimed at promoting safer, more sustainable, and compliant practices across the hospitality sector. The one-day initiative drew over 100 participants and brought together chefs, hotel engineers, food business operators, consultants, and industry stakeholders on a single platform.

The seminar was inaugurated in the presence of Mr. Pawan Agarwal, Former CEO, FSSAI; Mr. Sathyananda B, President – Supply Chain, Cafe Coffee Day; Mr. Subramanya Holla, President, Bruhat Bengaluru Hotel Association; representatives from M.S. Ramaiah College; and Mr. Ranjan Jain, Managing Director, Elanpro. The initiative was organised in collaboration with the Hospitality Consultants Forum (HCF).

Designed as a practical learning programme, Saksham focused on equipping hospitality professionals with actionable insights to improve food safety standards, operational efficiency, and service quality. Through expert-led sessions and interactive panel discussions conducted both in person and online, participants explored real-world challenges faced in commercial kitchens and hospitality operations.

The seminar revolved around three key pillars: Safety and Hygiene, Compliance and Audit Readiness, and Sustainability. Sessions covered essential topics such as food safety fundamentals, commercial kitchen fire suppression systems, reusable drinking water solutions, grease interception and capacity planning, wastewater management, and sustainable food processing practices. Discussions also highlighted the financial and operational risks of non-compliance and the critical role refrigeration plays in maintaining food integrity.

The sessions were led by industry and domain experts including Mr. Pawan Agarwal (Former CEO, FSSAI), Mr. Sanjay Jain (Elanpro), Ms. Chitra Muthiah (DNV), Ms. Anusha Adappa (Resguardo Industries), and Ms. Chayaa Nanjappa (Nectar Fresh Foods). The programme concluded with a panel discussion focused on strengthening accountability and responsible practices across the hospitality ecosystem.

Bengaluru’s rapidly expanding hospitality landscape, with over 12,000 restaurants, a strong cloud kitchen network, and one of India’s highest online food-ordering volumes, provided the ideal setting for such an industry-focused dialogue. The city’s growing F&B startup ecosystem and expanding workforce further underline the need for informed and disciplined operational practices.

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Ranjan Jain, MD, Elanpro, said,
“Bengaluru is growing so quickly as a food and hospitality hub that conversations like Saksham feel more important than ever. When industry leaders, operators and solution providers come together, it creates opportunities to understand what is working on the ground and where gaps still exist.

Culture doesn’t change in a day. It strengthens when people learn from each other and consistently reinforce responsible practices. When responsibility flows peer to peer, not just top down, it becomes embedded in daily operations. Saksham is simply the beginning of that shift.”

Addressing the importance of compliance, Mr. Pawan Agarwal, Former CEO, FSSAI, said,
“Compliance has always been one of the sector’s biggest challenges, especially as food businesses expand. Platforms like Saksham allow FBOs to understand not just the ‘rules’ but the ‘reasons’ behind them. This is where behaviour shifts begin. Initiatives like this can significantly strengthen India’s food safety culture and help establishments move from basic requirements to responsible daily practice.”

Hospitality Consultants Forum (HCF), an association of hospitality consultants engaged in designing globally compliant and sustainable F&B kitchens, played a key role in shaping the initiative. Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Sravan Kumar, Founding President, HCF, said, “Hospitality is a people-first industry, and our goal is to create spaces where teams can learn from one another and drive meaningful change. With Saksham, we wanted to build a bridge between knowledge and practice, where experience meets innovation and the sector moves forward together.”

Through Saksham, Elanpro reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening hospitality standards and supporting long-term operational improvement. The initiative aligns with the company’s broader mission to enable eco-smart, energy-efficient, and compliant food businesses through stronger SOPs and workforce capability building. Elanpro continues to champion responsible refrigeration and skill development across India, contributing to a safer, more resilient, and future-ready hospitality ecosystem.